Elmo heads for Afghanistan

Sesame Workshop is bowing educational tyke show "Baghch-e-simsim" (Sesame Garden) in Afghanistan together with local stations Tolo TV and Lemar TV on 12 ,. 1. With only a tiny proportion of Afghan children offered through the country's kindergarten system, "Baghch-e-simsim" is made to fill that void by educating kids with two-to-three minute small-documentaries, 13 that would be in your area created. The series will stress literacy, math, existence abilities and school readiness, and can place an additional focus on girls' education, cultural awareness and diversity. Sesame Street citizens Elmo, Large Bird and Grover, and puppets from nations including Egypt, Bangladesh, Mexico and Russia is going to be available. "Baghch-e-simsim," created in consultation with Afghanistan's Secretary of state for Education, will air in Dari and Pashto languages. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Lionsgate, Summit Re-Start Merger Talks

Could the career of Ken Russell, or anyone like him, have been possible at anytime other than the late 1960s and 1970s, when cultural rebellion and irreverence were often mistaken for artistic boldness and conviction? Like so many other famous directors, Russell, who died Nov. 27, was a relevant creative force for little more than a decade, even though he remained active as a filmmaker in one way or another for half a century. During his prime, I would not have dreamed of missing anything he did, yet most of it was simply wayward, and precious little has stood the test of time. Looking back now, his having now departed for another realm at the age of 84, I have no idea what Russell believed in other than his own naughty boy impudence.our editor recommendsHollywood's Notable DeathsKen Russell: 5 Things to KnowBritish Director Ken Russell Dies Aged 84 PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths All the same, during his so-called prime, Russell was a sufficiently dynamic figure to inspire anticipation about whatever outrage he might perpetrate next. Nearly 40 before he began forging a coherent career, Russell initially cultivated a certain highbrow reputation more by virtue of the subject matter he took on - celebrated artists and musicians, mostly - than by anything to do with his own technique. His 1960s "documentaries" for the BBC attracted attention for departing in so personal a way from the impartial norm and were nothing if not conceptually bold. Reconsidered now (they are available in a DVD boxed set), his studies of such figures as Elgar, Debussy, Isadora Duncan and Richard Strauss are certainly idiosyncratic but, often, more gross and obvious than they are insightful and illuminating. And yetSong of Summer,about Delius, gets it just right and is worth the rest of them combined. That was in 1968, and the following year cameWomen in Love,the great success that made the director's next 10 years of feature filmmaking possible. However it might look today, at the time it arrived like an exemplar of what the new sexual freedom in films was all about-bold, frank, priapic, a work with blood running through its veins. In its self-conscious forthrightness about nudity and sex talk, it also established what felt like an uncanny bond with D.H. Lawrence, so exactly did it mesh with the author's concerns. Russell's approach to a literary classic appeared vital and alive, not reverential and embalmed, as so many British and American adaptations had been until then. I almost fear to see it again, but that's the way it seemed when it burst upon the scene. STORY: 5 Things to Know About Ken Russell But fromWomen in Lovecame Ken Russell unleashed, and for a decade he reigned as the cinema's most reliable anti-philistine and provocateur. Five of his next nine films were artist biographies, after his fashion. For whatever reasons, the one I preferred wasMahler, which seemed to retain a measure of seriousness and legitimate power beneath the Nazi motifs and other shenanigans. The Devils,which I would gladly watch again if an original uncut print could be procured, had a certain mad beauty and weight to it along with its demented determination to shock, whereasThe Boy Friendwas a ham-fisted fiasco, proving the director's utter inability to charm. ButTommy,with Roger Daltrey and a wild mix of stars, was a commercial hit that gave him a continued lease on a mainstream creative life untilAltered States,his one thoroughly Hollywood movie, effectively ended it. After 1980, I dutifully continued to watch Russell's work but nothing really registered and the provocations suddenly seemed past their expiration date; even a reunion with Lawrence, onThe Rainbowin 1989, failed to revitalize the old juices, although his later projects, from films such asThe Insatiable Mrs. Kirschto a series of books on the sex lives of great composers, revealed, if anything, a heightened obsession with the libido. Personally, Russell's obstreperousness could always be relied upon. Never did an interview with him fail to produce some personal or professional insult or an assault on whomsoever might provide an obstacle for the director's unfettered creativity. For film critics Russell reserved a special level of hell all their own. On television, the director once bopped English critic Alexander Walker on the head with a copy of his own newspaper, the Evening Standard. But this was nothing compared to Russell's remark upon learning of the death of one of his most ardent detractors, Pauline Kael. In September, 2001, one week before 9/11, I was standing in the waiting lounge of the airport in Montrose, Colorado, with other Los Angeles-bound film folk after attending the Telluride Film Festival. Prior to boarding, I received a call informing me that Kael had passed away, news that I then conveyed to those in my vicinity. Before anyone else could react, Ken Russell barked, "Well, it's about time!" Wherever they are, now these two hard-headed iconoclasts can begin duking it out all over again. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Hollywood's Notable Deaths Related Topics

Box Office Preview: 'The Muppets' Prone to Win Thanksgiving Family Feud

Disney's The Muppets seem to be not cleaned up.our editor recommends'The Muppets': Whitened House Hosting Screening for Military Families (Exclusive)Martin Scorsese Calls Filming 'Hugo' in three dimensional 'An Enjoyable Headache'The Muppets: Film ReviewHugo: Film ReviewArthur Christmas: Film Review PHOTOS: 'The Muppets' Premiere Red-colored Carpet Arrivals Based on box office monitoring, the household film holds a secure lead within the other two new Thanksgiving films, The new sony and Aardman's Arthur Christmas and Vital's Hugo, directed by Martin Scorsese. The 3 films open countrywide on Wednesday, wishing to feast on Christmas traffic. The Muppets, starring Jason Segel and Can Be opposite the legendary puppets, is headed for any $40 million or better five day debut. Holdover The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning--Part 1 could win the Thanksgiving box office overall, but Muppets should have the ability to claim a victorious start for Disney, which made the film for any modest $45 million. VIDEO: Jason Segel, Can Be Talk Muppet Purists, Script Methods and Being 'Too Ambitious' Disney bought the privileges towards the Muppets in 2004, and coming back the puppets to fame is a priority for Wally Disney Galleries chairman Wealthy Ross, who would like to produce a new generation of fans. The studio's marketing division has enlisted the whole Disney empire in inserting the film, in addition to organizing a Whitened House screening from the movie for military families on Tuesday that Segel located. Arthur Christmas is forecasted to spread out within the mid to high teens for that 5 days. The new sony is hopeful the three dimensional film is a slow burn and also have strong legs throughout December due to its Christmas theme, and highlights it doesn't possess the brand recognition that Muppets likes since its an authentic property. Arthur Christmas, which solutions the question of methods Father Christmas provides toys around the globe in a single evening, has made north of $10 in four marketplaces overseas, the bullk which was gained within the U.K., home of Aardman.A few days ago, it is constantly on the unveil overseas, including in Japan, France, Korea and Nz. THR COVER STORY: The Hopes for Martin Scorsese It's unclear where Warner Bros. holdover Happy Ft Two will land within the Christmas after opening to some disappointing $21.two million last week. Hugo is Scorsese's first family film, in addition to his first three dimensional title. Created by Graham King and written by Vital, Hugo--which cost north of $100 million to create--is anticipated to spread out within the low teens for that 5 days. Vital has made the decision to choose a sluggish unveil, and can only open Hugo in certain 1,200 theaters, in comparison to a lot more than 3,000 locations for Muppets and Arthur Christmas. That's because Hugo is anticipated to experience a little over the age of a normal family film, in addition to appeal to some more sophisticated audience. By scaling back Hugo's initial footprint, Vital hopes to ride the wave of excellent reviews and honours attention as December will get going ahead, almost as much ast it did this past year with True Grit, that was launched over Christmas, and grew to become a box office success. Hugo isn't alone in sporting rave reviews--within an unusual Thanksgiving twist, The Muppets and Arthur Christmas are also criticial darlings (Muppetsboasted one hundred percent fresh rating on RottenTomatoes.com by Thursday mid-day). The niche box office also sees several high-profile debuts. On Wednesday, the Weinstein Co. opens Michelle Williams starrer My Week with Marilyn in 123 theaters in 12 marketplaces before growing into one more 61 marketplaces on Friday, getting the film's total theater count to 224. The more compact unveil on Wednesday is made to provide the film some space from Fox Searchlight's The Descendants, which grows right into a total of 400 theaters on Thanksgiving eve. Also on Wednesday, The new sony Pictures Classics launches David Cronenberg's A Harmful Method, starring Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley and Viggo Mortensen, in four theaters in NY and La. Friday brings the NY-La debut from the significantly acclaimed French quiet film The Artist, that the Weinstein Co. opens in four theaters in individuals two metropolitan areas. Related Subjects Box Office The Muppets Hugo

Justin Timberlake & Jimmy Fallon Planning More History Or Rap

First Published: November 18, 2011 3:24 PM EST Credit: Getty Premium Caption Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon are seen at GQs 2011 Men of the Year Party held at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles on November 17, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Ready for another trip to the classroom of hip-hop? Jimmy Fallon told Access Hollywood that he and rapping pal Justin Timberlake are working on yet another History of Rap segment for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Were working on another History of Rap, Jimmy told Access at GQs 2011 Men of the Year Party in Los Angeles on Thursday night. Were going to try and top [the others with] the next thing, he continued. But what about possible a rap album with Jimmy and the star? Justin doesnt return my phone calls about that, Jimmy said with a laugh. Hell call about anything else. All jokes aside, Jimmy told Access he was honored to appear on the cover of GQ with his friend and collaborator. Justins one of the most talented people in the world, Jimmy said. He always makes me smile. He just comes on show and takes over. I love that guy so much It was an honor to be on the cover with that guy. For more on Jimmy and Justins GQ cover photo shoot, CLICK HERE! Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Gabrielle Giffords, Mark Kelly Recall Shooting in Diane Sawyer Interview, New Book (Video)

ABC There was initially some question over whether Diane Sawyer's interview with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the first since the U.S. Representative was shot on Jan. 8, would be documented on video.our editor recommends'Law & Order: LA' to Film Episode Inspired by Gabrielle Giffords Shooting Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Reading First Harry Potter Book as She Recovers ABC News puts that to rest with the first promo, which features Giffords and astronaut husband Mark Kelly sitting down with Sawyer for the Nov. 14 special. VIDEO: Gabrielle Giffords' Return to Congress Sparks Support from Hollywood The spot is dominated by narration, but Giffords appears to speak during the meeting, which was filmed at her and Kelly's home outside of Houston, Texas, in October. It marks her first comments to the media since a bullet wound to the brain compromised her speaking abilities. When the interview was first announced in September, a Giffords spokesperson said she was still undecided about being on-camera, noting the decision would come later, based on her progress. Even now, her chief of staff tells The Arizona Republic "it was not a full-length" interview. STORY: Diane Sawyer Lands First Interview With Gabrielle Giffords ABC News hasn't revealed how much of the one-hour special, which also includes footage of Giffords' road to recovery, will be devoted to the interview. The broadcast is timed to the Nov. 15 release of Giffords' and Kelly's new book. Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope, a joint memoir, focuses on the months following the January attack outside a Tucson grocery store, Giffords' efforts to relearn how to speak and walk and her discovery sometime later that six people were also killed in the attack. Giffords returned to Congress on Aug. 1 for the first time since the shooting -- and though this is her first interview, Kelly spoke with Diane Sawyer earlier in the year. video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player Diane Sawyer ABC News

Dimension Acquires Rights To Michael Keaton Thriller Penthouse North

Dimension Films has showed up U.S. distribution rights to director Ernest Ruben’s thriller Penthouse North, which stars Michael Keaton and Michelle Monaghan and begins shooting in December in Ottawa. David Loughery written the script which is creating with Ruben, Rob Sackman and Michael Baker Jon Shiffman is executive producer. The story concentrates on a sadistic criminal named Hollander (Keaton) who plays the kitty-and-mouse game with Sara Taylor (Monaghan), a photojournalist who was simply blinded in Iraq and provides extensive money of stolen diamonds hidden in their apartment. Hollander uses physical and mental torture to be able to see them, but Sara fights back. Dimension’s Andrew Kramer and Michal Steinberg talked about the sale with Sackman and ICM, which aided package the film and co-repped U.S. rights.